# Automated tagging **URL:** \ **Category:** Site Feedback\ **Created:** [September 2, 2023, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497 "2023-09-02T10:39:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FeRDNYC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferdnyc/32/14000_2.png) [@FeRDNYC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeRDNYC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/1 "2023-09-02T10:39:47Z")
Over in the Cafe Society rules post, a recent update from @What_Exit reads: > [@\*\*\*\* Forum Rules: PLEASE READ! \*\*\*\*](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules-please-read/329913/14): > > As of 2023-08-22 some tags are now automated. If a keyword appears in the OP or the Title of the thread, it will be tagged. A few are case sensitive. Word Tag Word Tag Word Tag Ale#beer-wine-liquorFrodo#middle-eartholympics#olympic-sportsanime#cartoons-animationGaladriel#middle-earthPeregrin#middle-earthAragorn#middle-earthGandalf#middle-earthRoe vs. Wade#roe_vs_wade_abortionArwen#middle-earthgardening#gardeningrugby#rugbyballet#theater-stage-danceGimli#middle-earth… Just FYI, over at [discuss.fedoraproject.org](http://discuss.fedoraproject.org) we’ve had less-than-stellar experience with automated tagging. The main problem is that the keyword-matching tagger can’t distinguish between something that’s mentioned because it’s topical for the post, vs. something that’s mentioned explicitly because it’s _not_. That’ll probably be less of an issue for a social board, so maybe the tagging will work out here. On the Fedora forums, it becomes a problem when, for example, a user describes a graphics problem and says, “This only happens when I’m using X [meaning X11/Xorg], it doesn’t happen on Wayland” …and the post gets tagged only “wayland” because that’s a keyword, and “X” alone can’t possibly be a keyword. It also has a tendency to pick keywords out of log messages that users post, often completely-unrelated to the topic at hand. Though, again, that’s unlikely to be an issue here. Still, if users can at least have the ability to **remove** auto-mistags from their own posts, that would be a win. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/2 "2023-09-02T12:07:38Z")
So far it is working fine. I understand the problems and only automated tags that were pretty clear. * * * Users do actually have the ability to clear incorrect tags and I’m likely to catch it if they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![FeRDNYC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferdnyc/32/14000_2.png) [@FeRDNYC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeRDNYC)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/3 "2023-09-02T12:19:14Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Users do actually have the ability to clear incorrect tags and I’m likely to catch it if they don’t. Oh, good! That’s a relief. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/4 "2023-09-02T12:30:42Z")
What led to this and some of the limitations actually came up in an ATMB thread starting here: > [@Forums names and subjects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forums-names-and-subjects/988415/81): > > So I was able to create a rule that if the First Post or title of the thread contains “Trump” it will be tagged #trump. Now I have to see if I can apply this to other tags. Speaking of avoiding problematic terms: > [@Forums names and subjects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forums-names-and-subjects/988415/88): > > Anyone can tag them as they create their OPs. But I can’t automate Bridge, that would cause a lot of mistaken tags. Though “Trump” itself may cause some few issues. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/5 "2023-09-02T12:51:03Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Though “Trump” itself may cause some few issues. Well, it’s what he does, after all. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/6 "2023-09-08T19:26:04Z")
One “no thinking” autotagging casualty: > [@Problem Rental House](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-rental-house/989794/4): > > You can try finding the rental listing for this house. Look at Craigslist and other rental sites for your zip code. Maybe there’s something in the description which will give you a clue. You can look up the owner of the property from the county clerk website. To avoid issues in the future, the neighbors might want to be proactive about registering complaints. Call the police if they are making noise after hours. Call the code compliance office for any code violations. Do it regularly and the ow… Has nothing to do with sports, except for one passing mention of neighbor kids playing driveway hoops. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/7 "2023-09-08T22:20:49Z")
Tag removed, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/8 "2023-09-08T22:22:13Z")
Oh, thanks. As a matter of procedure, did you want concerned readers to clear obvious mistags ourselves, or just report the thread? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/9 "2023-09-08T22:25:08Z")
Clearing would be great. But flagging is absolutely fine too. So far the auto-tagging is working pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/10 "2023-09-08T22:50:18Z")
Funny how many of those auto-tags refer to middle-earth and not to LOTR or simply Tolkien. But as a user who has never managed tags well I appreciate the effort. May it live long and prosper! (tag: ST) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/11 "2023-09-08T23:46:35Z")
User bias, I loaded a lot of auto terms for Middle Earth as they were probable 99% hits and I’m a big old Tolkien fanatic. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/12 "2023-09-08T23:56:10Z")
Can the autotags be set up to only work in specific Categories / Subforums? Or can the tags themselves be restricted? For example, it would make sense if only threads in the Game Room would be automatically tagged as “sports.” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/13 "2023-09-09T00:06:28Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So far the auto-tagging is working pretty well. I agree. The one I pointed out is the very first that has ever caught my eye. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/14 "2023-09-09T10:14:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Clearing would be great. But flagging is absolutely fine too. Does it have to be the OP, or can anyone remove a wayward tag ? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-tagging/989497/15 "2023-09-09T13:58:31Z")
The was Discourse works, only the OP and only during the edit window. And of course any Mod.